Building wall construction



May 16, 1950 'w, BITHELL 2,508,093

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1222199225502 W' 'Rfiiizeii,

69 MM 2 7/3? I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. P. BITHELL May 16, 11950 BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 2, 1946 Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and pertains more particularly to an improved flreeresisting wall or partition for industrial, commercial or residential buildings.

The principal purpose of the invention is to reinforce the wooden studding that is generally employed in wall structures by providing a metal framework which will securely support the metal lathing, mortar and wall plaster applied thereto, even though the studding should be consumed or charred by fire.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a lightweight, fire-resistant wall that can be more economically and rapidly constructed than conventional walls of terra cotta, brick and the like fire-proof materials, yet will afiord substantially the same degree of protection as the more costly wall constructions.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a lattice arrangement of metallic reinforcing members so that metal lathing may be securely laced thereto at a number of points, thusproduoing a lathed surface of considerable rigidity and durability.

A still further purpose of the invention is to retain the Void space between the vertical studs, even though the wall is internally reinforced, so that insulation may be blown in at any time.

Still other advantages of this type of wall will be apparent from the following description of the recommended embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the improved wall structurewith sections of the various mortar layers broken away to illustrate the reinforcing members for the wooden studding;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the wall show-n in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the wall taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the wall, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an individual bracket attached to one of the studs and secured to a pair of vertical rods; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall section showing the general interconnection of the various reinforcing members of the metal frame, and the attached metal lathing with its superposed layers of mortar and plaster, the latter being partially broken away.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the conventional wooden supports to which the metal framework and lathing are eventually attached, comprises the vertical studding Hi, the bottom shoes I2 and the top caps It. The shoes l2 rest directly upon the concrete flooring 16 and, through the medium of the studding Ill, the caps I4 assist in supporting the concrete ceiling [8, thus forming one story of an ordinary building. While the floor l6 and ceiling [8 are referred to as being concrete, it will be understood that other mate rials may be substituted therefor, such substitutiondepending mainly on the type of building and its intended use. In the customary building wall or partition, wooden or metal lathing is nailed to the studding and plaster is applied to the lathing.

It will be apparent that in case of fire the complete inner wooden structure of the conventional wall would be wholly or partially destroyed, thereby permitting the wall or partition to collapse. In order to retain the inherent advantages of wooden studding, yet render such a wall resistant to fire, this invention contemplates a wall having a framework or lattice of metallic members, so positioned and secured to the studding l0 and to each other that these reinforcing members when covered with mortar and plaster will remain standing, even though the wooden members l0, l2 and M are consumed by fire.

Therefore, to accomplish the desired reinforcement of the wooden studding ID in such a way as to provide a fire-resisting wall, a series of U-shaped metal brackets 26 are preferably secured one above the other to one side of each Vertical stud member at about one foot intervals. As will best be seen from Fig. 5, each bracket 20 is formed from a, metallic strip by punching and bending the strip into the shape shown. The ends of the bracket arms may be each drilled to receive a pair of nails 22, and it will be noted that when the bracket is nailed to the studding ID, a pair of cut-out tongues 24 protrude therefrom in the manner indicated by the extended dotted line positions shown in Fig. 5.

When a stud H) has been thus bracketed from top to bottom, the ends of a pair of pencil rods 26 are inserted into recesses 21 (Fig. 6) provided in the floor and ceiling. If the rods 26 are out about two inches longer than the distance between the floor and ceiling, they may easily be inserted by springing because of their resiliency, for in a building having 2" x 4" studding, rods of 34; diameter will suflice. Obviously. the actual diameter of the rods used for any specific installation will depend upon the weight to be supported if the studs l0 should be burned away.

The floor and ceiling recesses should be drilled in vertical alignment with the outside corners of the brackets, so that the rods will freely contact the corners of each bracket without bowing. After the ends of the rods 26 are properly placed in the recesses, the tongues 24 are hammered or otherwise forced into engagement with the rods, thus causing each rod to be firmly held in place against the brackets. The wall frame is further reinforced by a series of horizontal pencil rods 28 which are securely laced to the vertical rods 26 by strands of wire 30, so that the framework comprising the interlaced vertical and horizontal rods is securely and permanently erected between the floor and ceiling of the buflding.

The wall, as thus far constructed, is ready for the metal lathing 32 which is first pulled taut and preferably stapled to each stud I in a manner heretofore employed, and is then tied or laced to the rod-frame by wire or other incombustible material, at various points of the framework. The utilization of the wooden studding enables the metal lathing to be nailed thereto and suitably stretched.

A first coat of mortar 34 may now be applied to the lathing 32, and after hardening, the wooden grounds 36, 38 and 40 may be installed at the proper heights and nailed to the wooden studs [0, these grounds respectively representing the means on which the top molding, chair rail (if any) and base board may subsequently be secured to the wall in the conventional manner. The first coat of mortar 34 is then covered with a second coat of mortar 42 upon which is finally applied a finishing coat of smooth plaster 44.v By lacing the lathing 32 to the rods 26 and 28 at preferred points, it will be understood that a rigid lathing surface is thereby produced which will not buckle or collapse if the studs I!) are eventually damaged or consumed by fire. It will also be realized that a rigid lathing surface is highly desirable, even though fire never consumes the studs, for the lacing will supplement the stapling to increase the rigidity over that provided by stapling alone, thus reducing the tendency of the mortar and plaster to crack.

. It should be emphasized that very little additional effort is required in installing the brackets and rods, and that no substantial changes are necessary from the conventional procedure heretofore used in erecting wall structures of the type for which this invention is adapted. On the other hand, the improved, reinforced wall will adequately resist destruction from fire; and it will be observed that the wooden grounds, located outside the mortar layer 34 are protected from flames consuming the studding, and it will be appreciated that the finish layer 46 may cover the grounds, if desired. It will also be noted that in addition to increasing the weight of the wall only slightly, very little space will be occupied by the reinforcing framework, so that the voids between the studs will remain available for insulation or other building equipment.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention as used for an interior wall or partition, I do not wish to be limited to the structural details herein illustrated, for other arrangements obviously fall within the intended scope of the appended claims, and it is apparent that an exterior wall utilizing the improved metal framework may be erected without material change in the construction herein illustrated.

I claim:

1. A wall construction erected between the floor and ceiling of a building and comprising a row of laterally spaced, upright wooden studs, a plurality of brackets nailed to the opposite sides of the respective studs in spaced vertical relation and having arms projecting laterally from the studs parallel to the direction of the wall, a plurality of metal rods connected to the projecting arms of the brackets on each stud and extending vertically from fioor to ceiling, a plurality of horizontal, metal rods fastened to said vertical rods in spaced parallel relation, to provide a metal framework on opposite sides of the row of wooden studs, metal lathing nailed to the studs and fastened to said metal framework on opposite sides thereof, and mortar coats applied to the outer surfaces of said metal lathing.

2. A wall construction as defined in claim 1, in which the brackets consist of U-shaped metal members, the arms of which straddle the stud at their free ends and have integral tongues at their outwardly projecting ends embracing said vertical rods.

3. A wall construction as defined in claim 1, in which the horizontal rods are laced to the vertical rods by wires, and in which the metal lathing is laced to the rod framework by wires.

4. A wall construction as defined in claim 1, in which Wooden grounds are nailed to the studs over the mortar coats, and a finish coat of plaster is applied over the mortar coats and flush with the outer surface of said grounds.

WILLIAM P. BITHEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNL. ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 922,393 Comerma May 18, 1909 944,110 Summerscales Dec. 21, 1909 1,684,127 De Baun Sept. 11, 1928 1,944,079 Graves Jan. 16, 1934 2,282,515 Graef May 12, 1942 

